Case Management: Turning giving into empowering and Relief to Restoration
A Case for Management
Often times the community of compassion is moved to become involved in the plight of the poor. For year it has been said that the government is performing the work of caring for our city's poor when the community of faith and others should be providing that assistance. While on the surface this sounds good, there must be a significant difference in the approach. Since President Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964, the government's approach has been relief without empowerment. This has led to an increase in generational poverty. Case management insures that our helping is done in a manner that empowers the families and communities that we engage. This requires a coordinated approach that leads to restoration.
In addition, in efforts that seek to work with our communities most vulnerable, the long-tern effects of poverty must be mitigated. For example, it is difficult to deal with chronic homelessness without having a plan to address their mental illness and drug addiction. Our passion to restore individuals and communities must be greater than our desire to have a giving or helping experience. In order for our helping to empower the individuals that we serve, we must make sure that clearly identify the demographic that we are most fit to serve with our capacity.
Case Management
Once the needs of an individual or family have been assessed, a case manager may be assigned to help coordinate, monitor, evaluate and advocate for services to address those needs. Case managers are not service providers. An effective case manager works with many different agencies to arrange and monitor delivery of appropriate services and support. The level of case manager involvement depends on the degree and immediacy of the needs of the particular individual or family. Intensive case management should be provided to those families whose assessments indicate immediate need and/or high risk for substance abuse and/or domestic violence.
Effective case management involves an intentional and systematic implementation of the following tools:
Assessment: A thorough assessment of strengths and needs by the case manager and family members, working in partnership, will help to identify existing strengths on which the family can build and needs that should be addressed. The quality of the assessment hinges on the case manager's skill, the quality and comprehensiveness of the assessment tool, and the relationships the case manager has been able to establish with the individual or the family. Goal setting and plan development: A good assessment allows the case manager to assist the family in setting goals and developing a detailed plan of the supports and services needed to achieve those goals. Goal setting and plan development proceed mutually as a partnership between the family and the case manager. Identification and linking to services: This is the central task of case management. The case manager assists the family in linking with different providers of support and services identified in the plan. Monitoring: Coordinating services so the family gets what it needs, and only what it needs. This function includes helping the family to assess the appropriateness and helpfulness of services and supports, and to revise or replace a plan that may no longer be effective. Disengagement: When the goals are achieved, the case manager assists the family in disengaging from formal supports and services, while assisting them in building an ongoing plan for maintaining progress made.
For information on Case Management ad Chaplaincy services call Senior Chaplain Treva Woodson @ 205-202-6002 or contact via email at twoodson@missionalabama.org.
Often times the community of compassion is moved to become involved in the plight of the poor. For year it has been said that the government is performing the work of caring for our city's poor when the community of faith and others should be providing that assistance. While on the surface this sounds good, there must be a significant difference in the approach. Since President Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964, the government's approach has been relief without empowerment. This has led to an increase in generational poverty. Case management insures that our helping is done in a manner that empowers the families and communities that we engage. This requires a coordinated approach that leads to restoration.
In addition, in efforts that seek to work with our communities most vulnerable, the long-tern effects of poverty must be mitigated. For example, it is difficult to deal with chronic homelessness without having a plan to address their mental illness and drug addiction. Our passion to restore individuals and communities must be greater than our desire to have a giving or helping experience. In order for our helping to empower the individuals that we serve, we must make sure that clearly identify the demographic that we are most fit to serve with our capacity.
Case Management
Once the needs of an individual or family have been assessed, a case manager may be assigned to help coordinate, monitor, evaluate and advocate for services to address those needs. Case managers are not service providers. An effective case manager works with many different agencies to arrange and monitor delivery of appropriate services and support. The level of case manager involvement depends on the degree and immediacy of the needs of the particular individual or family. Intensive case management should be provided to those families whose assessments indicate immediate need and/or high risk for substance abuse and/or domestic violence.
Effective case management involves an intentional and systematic implementation of the following tools:
Assessment: A thorough assessment of strengths and needs by the case manager and family members, working in partnership, will help to identify existing strengths on which the family can build and needs that should be addressed. The quality of the assessment hinges on the case manager's skill, the quality and comprehensiveness of the assessment tool, and the relationships the case manager has been able to establish with the individual or the family. Goal setting and plan development: A good assessment allows the case manager to assist the family in setting goals and developing a detailed plan of the supports and services needed to achieve those goals. Goal setting and plan development proceed mutually as a partnership between the family and the case manager. Identification and linking to services: This is the central task of case management. The case manager assists the family in linking with different providers of support and services identified in the plan. Monitoring: Coordinating services so the family gets what it needs, and only what it needs. This function includes helping the family to assess the appropriateness and helpfulness of services and supports, and to revise or replace a plan that may no longer be effective. Disengagement: When the goals are achieved, the case manager assists the family in disengaging from formal supports and services, while assisting them in building an ongoing plan for maintaining progress made.
For information on Case Management ad Chaplaincy services call Senior Chaplain Treva Woodson @ 205-202-6002 or contact via email at twoodson@missionalabama.org.
